We will meet in The Hotel Legend lobby by 10:00 am to begin our trip.  We will be met by a local guide for a journey by minibus to the mountain resort community of Zakopane. Along the way, we will stop in the village of Dolina Chocholowska for a sumptuous, homemade lunch including samples of local specialties like oscypek cheese and highlander tea- which includes vodka.  In Zakopane, we will settle into the 5-star Nosalowy Park Hotel and Spa.  The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance to Krupowki Street, Zakopane's main promenade, which ranks among the most famous streets in all of Poland. In addition to its convenient location, the hotel offers traditional Zakopane hospitality.  There will be time to relax or go for a leisurely walk around Zakopane before gathering for a festive welcome dinner at our hotel restaurant. 

After breakfast, we will attend our first cooking class in one of the highlander villages in the Podhale region. We will learn the secrets of preparing the all-time regional favorite, moskole, potato pancakes with meat and mushrooms, as well as other local recipes.  Next, we'll travel back to Zakopane and tour the beautiful mountain town.  We will enjoy a leisurely walk along the town’s famous Krupowki Street and will ride a chair ski lift up Gubalowka Hill to get the best panoramic view of the city and the Tatra Mountains. Choose your own spot for a casual dinner. We recommend Restaurant Sabala on Zakopane’s main street, where you can watch the world go by from a cozy restaurant terrace and celebrate with delicious regional Polish food, drink and music. 

This morning we will travel to Sromowce-Wyzne and board a wooden raft for a trip through the Dunajec River Gorge. (In the event of inclement weather, instead of the rafting trip we will substitute attractions such as Tatra Mountains Museum and other attractions in and/or around Zakopane.) The rafting trip is one of the best-known activities of this region. The daily raft trips have been organized by “gorale”, the highlanders since the early 19th century. After rafting and lunch, we'll travel to Debno Podhalanskie to visit a timber church where the interior includes unique paintings and precious Gothic sculptures from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The church is on the UNESCO List of World Heritage sites. This afternoon you can enjoy free time in Zakopane. You are welcome to shop for locally made handicrafts, experience luxurious spa treatments at our hotel, or go for a stroll down Krupowki street. To end the day you will choose your own spot for dinner.  We recommend Mala Szwajcaria restaurant in Zakopane, famous among locals and tourists for its outstanding Polish and European cuisine. 

Today we'll travel to a quaint highlander town, Bukowina Tatrzanska, where we will take a glass painting class at a local Culture Center & School of Dying Trades. After, we have lunch at Schronisko Smakow restaurant owned by Polish restaurateur and celebrity, Magda Gessler. On our drive thru the Podhale highlands, we'll stop at wooden churches, manor houses, grocery stores and at Chocholow and Witow villages, both on the Lesser Poland Timber Architecture Route. In the village of Chocholow we’ll visit Jan Zieder’s art studio. Zieder is a local wood carver and artist and we'll have an opportunity to purchase some of his unique, hand-made and quality carvings. To celebrate our fourth day in beautiful Lesser Poland, we will dine together at Gazdowka u Zajaca restaurant in Dolina Chocholowska, which offers regional specialties and lively folk entertainment. 

After an early breakfast, we'll return to Krakow, the capital of Lesser Poland, to begin our urban culinary experience. On the way, we'll visit Bacowka, a small mountain shepherd hut, where the smoked sheep cheese “oscypek” is made in a traditional way by highlanders. Upon arrival in Krakow, we will take a guided tour of the city. Krakow is Poland’s third largest city and escaped the devastation that obliterated other Polish cities during World War II. It is a perfectly preserved medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We'll also visit Market Square, the largest medieval town square in Europe, the 14th-century Wawel Castle and Cathedral, and Kazimierz former Jewish district. Dinner is on your own.  Krakow is full of restaurants that offer memorable dining experiences. We recommend Biala Roza restaurant specializing in traditional Krakow cuisine where Chef Lukasz Cichy at Biala Roza uses top quality regional products to create modern arrangements of flavors of the past. Smacznego! - Enjoy!

After breakfast and before we head to our second cooking class of the week, we'll make a stop at the fresh food market called Stary Kleparz, a centuries-old Krakow's tradition. Locals and visitors shop in an unforgettable atmosphere for fresh, traditional Polish food products.  We’ll have an opportunity to taste breads, cheeses, meats, fruits and vegetables. Once we arrive at our cooking class, we'll meet a local Krakow chef who will teach us how to prepare a typical three-course Polish meal. After class we'll tour the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, a virtual underground city, with galleries, lakes, chapels and murals – all carved from salt – and a UNESCO World Heritage site. During the remainder of the day you are free to enjoy the sights and shops of Krakow on your own. Krakow offers a good choice of art, crafts, and souvenir shopping. We recommend Cepelia store, which has a great selection of quality Polish folk handicrafts. Our farewell dinner will be at Wesele restaurant, serving old Polish and Krakow delicacies and specialties in the heart of Krakow's Market Square. 

Depart for home after breakfast or make your own arrangements to stay longer in beautiful Krakow.

Even though our vacations are leisurely, you may want to consider staying longer in Krakow. You may find that the extra time will make your journey even more relaxing.